Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $178 Million in Anti-Terrorism Funding for NYPD, Regional Law Enforcement, and Non-Profit Organizations in and Around NYC

Department of Homeland Security UASI Program Provides Funding to Address Needs of High-Threat Urban Areas, Like NYC, and Protect Against Acts of Terrorism; Earlier This Year, the Senators Announced Their Push to Fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at Highest-Ever Level

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the New York City area is set to receive $178,750,000 in federal funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which includes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The UASI program provides funding to address the unique needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas by helping to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. Schumer and Gillibrand also announced $76,930,000 in State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funding for New York, which helps implement anti-terrorism strategies outside of urban areas.

Through UASI’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, $11,096,805 will be awarded to 116 nonprofit organizations in the New York City area that are at high-risk of an attack to improve their security. Schumer and Gillibrand have long advocated for this robust anti-terrorism funding. Earlier this year, Schumer and Gillibrand announced their push, which Gillibrand led with a bipartisan coalition of senators,to increase funding for the NSGP in Fiscal Year 2020 to $75 million – the highest level yet – to protect nonprofit institutions that are at risk of being targeted for terror attacks. Gillibrand was successful in calling on Senate Appropriators to fund the NSGP at the highest possible level of $60 million in Fiscal Year 2019. Synagogues, churches, mosques, and other faith-based community centers are just a few examples of nonprofit organizations that could apply for these funds.

“With both ISIS-inspired attacks and horrific hate crimes targeting places of worship becoming more frequent across the globe, we must do all we can to help protect top terror targets like New York City and help people of all faiths worship in safety and security,” said Senator Schumer. “Federal security funds, like UASI, are the cornerstone of effective preparedness and prevention against terror threats and enable local law enforcement, like the NYPD, to do all they can to keep New Yorkers safe. I have been a strong supporter of counter-terrorism funds for New York City and I will do everything in my power to continue fighting for these funds to make sure that New York and all houses of worship are protected.”

“No one should ever have to live in fear of being the target of a terror attack, and it is a tragedy that New York and places across the country still face the threat of terrorism and hate crimes,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These anti-terror funds will help our law enforcement protect and save lives, and it will also provide nonprofits and places of worship that are at risk of being targeted with the resources they need to enhance their security and help prevent attacks. I’m proud to fight for the funding for this critical program every year in the Senate, and I will always do everything I can to help keep New Yorkers safe.”

The FY 2019 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is composed of three related grant programs: State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI),and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG). HSGP provides grant funding to help state and local governments obtainthe resources required to protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.